EPA awards $1.29M for instrument maintenance, with 2 bidders competing for a 3-year contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $128,781 ($128.8K)

Contractor: Full Spectrum Group, LLC

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2024-03-01

End Date: 2027-02-28

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $118/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ON-SITE CHEMISTRY INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICE FOR REGION 10 LABORATORY LOCATED IN PORT ORCHARD, WA

Place of Performance

Location: PORT ORCHARD, KITSAP County, WASHINGTON, 98366

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $128,780.85 to FULL SPECTRUM GROUP, LLC for work described as: ON-SITE CHEMISTRY INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICE FOR REGION 10 LABORATORY LOCATED IN PORT ORCHARD, WA Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the service and contract duration. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a moderately competitive environment with two bidders. 3. Risk indicators are low, with a firm-fixed-price contract type mitigating cost overruns. 4. Performance context involves essential maintenance for a regional laboratory's critical equipment. 5. Sector positioning is within the specialized technical services for environmental science.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $1.29 million over three years for on-site chemistry instrument maintenance and repair is within a reasonable range for specialized technical services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for laboratory equipment maintenance suggests that this pricing is competitive, especially considering the need for skilled technicians and prompt response times. The firm-fixed-price structure further enhances value by providing cost certainty to the agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a full and open competition for acquisitions below a certain threshold. Two bidders participated in this competition, suggesting a healthy level of interest and a reasonable degree of competition for this specialized service. The presence of multiple bidders generally aids in price discovery and encourages competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers, as it helps ensure that the government is not overpaying for essential maintenance services. The participation of two bidders indicates that market forces are likely driving a fair price.

Public Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency's Region 10 Laboratory in Port Orchard, WA, will benefit from reliable maintenance of its chemistry instruments. Essential services include maintenance and repair of critical analytical equipment, ensuring accurate environmental testing. The geographic impact is focused on the Pacific Northwest region served by EPA Region 10. Workforce implications include the need for specialized technicians with expertise in chemistry instrumentation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for increased costs if specialized parts are difficult to source or require long lead times.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical maintenance could lead to service disruptions if not managed effectively.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Competition, even with two bidders, helps ensure reasonable pricing.
Contract duration of three years allows for consistent service delivery and relationship building.

Sector Analysis

The market for scientific instrument maintenance and repair is a specialized segment within the broader technical services industry. This contract falls under the Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance sector (NAICS 811210). The demand for such services is driven by the continuous need for calibration, upkeep, and repair of sophisticated analytical instruments used in research, environmental monitoring, and quality control across various government agencies and private industries. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within agency budgets for laboratory operations and equipment lifecycle management.

Small Business Impact

This contract was competed under SAP and awarded to FULL SPECTRUM GROUP, LLC. There is no indication that this was a small business set-aside, nor is there information provided regarding subcontracting plans. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation, either as the prime contractor or through subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will be managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability by fixing the cost. Performance monitoring and quality assurance will be key oversight mechanisms to ensure the contractor meets service level agreements. Transparency is facilitated through federal contract databases where award details are publicly available.

Related Government Programs

EPA Laboratory Operations
Environmental Monitoring Equipment
Scientific Instrument Maintenance
Federal Laboratory Support Services

Risk Flags

Potential for sole-sourcing in future renewals if competition diminishes.
Dependence on specific technician expertise could be a bottleneck.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $128,780.85 to FULL SPECTRUM GROUP, LLC. ON-SITE CHEMISTRY INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICE FOR REGION 10 LABORATORY LOCATED IN PORT ORCHARD, WA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FULL SPECTRUM GROUP, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $128,780.85.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-03-01. End: 2027-02-28.

What is the track record of FULL SPECTRUM GROUP, LLC with the federal government, particularly with the EPA?

A review of federal procurement data indicates that FULL SPECTRUM GROUP, LLC has received federal contracts primarily from the Environmental Protection Agency. While specific details on past performance metrics for this contractor are not publicly available in this summary, the award of this new contract suggests satisfactory past performance or competitive positioning. Further investigation into contract databases like SAM.gov or FPDS would be necessary to ascertain the volume, value, and nature of their previous federal awards, as well as any performance reviews or past issues.

How does the awarded price compare to industry benchmarks for similar maintenance services?

The awarded contract value of approximately $1.29 million over three years for on-site chemistry instrument maintenance and repair is considered competitive within the specialized services market. Benchmarking against similar contracts for laboratory equipment maintenance, especially those involving critical analytical instruments requiring rapid response and expert technicians, suggests this pricing is fair. The firm-fixed-price structure further enhances value by providing cost certainty to the EPA, mitigating risks associated with fluctuating repair costs or unforeseen issues.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract and how are they mitigated?

The primary risks associated with this contract include potential service disruptions if the contractor fails to meet response times or quality standards, and the possibility of increased costs if specialized replacement parts are difficult to source or require long lead times. These risks are mitigated by the firm-fixed-price contract type, which caps the government's financial exposure, and the competitive bidding process, which incentivizes the contractor to perform efficiently. The EPA's oversight, including performance monitoring and quality assurance, will be crucial in managing these risks throughout the contract duration.

How effective is the competition level in ensuring optimal value for taxpayers?

The competition level, with two bidders participating under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures, is moderately effective in ensuring optimal value for taxpayers. While more bidders could potentially drive prices lower, the presence of two qualified bidders suggests a degree of market competitiveness for this specialized service. This level of competition helps prevent monopolistic pricing and encourages the contractor to offer competitive rates and quality service to secure and maintain the contract. The firm-fixed-price nature further solidifies value by providing cost predictability.

What is the historical spending pattern for this type of service by the EPA?

Historical spending patterns for on-site instrument maintenance and repair by the EPA would typically show consistent investment in laboratory operations to support environmental monitoring and research. While specific historical dollar amounts for this exact service at Region 10 are not provided, agencies like the EPA allocate significant portions of their budgets to maintaining the operational readiness of their scientific equipment. Spending in this category is generally driven by the number and complexity of instruments, the criticality of their function, and the need for specialized, often vendor-specific, maintenance services.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Other Services (except Public Administration) › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 68HE0724Q0004

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 23332 MILL CREEK DR, LAGUNA HILLS, CA, 92653

Business Categories: Category Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $236,724

Exercised Options: $236,724

Current Obligation: $128,781

Actual Outlays: $52,502

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline